Wire reeler



Sept. 15, 1931-. w. c. SAUNDERS WIRE REELER Filed June 25, 1930 Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES WILLIAM C. SAUNDERS, OF HINTON, IOWA WIRE, REELER Application filed June 25,

My invention relate-s to wire reelers of the type attachable to a farm wagon and used for reeling barbed wire.

An object of my invention is to provide a wire reeler attachment which may be at- 10 able and inexpensive construction.

Another object is to provide a wire reeler embodying a novel and very eficient arrangement for applying pressure between the power take-off pulley and the wagon wheel.

Another object is to provide a simple arrangement for adjusting the pressure producing mechanism.

l/Vith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, ar

rangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a wagon with my invention attached.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the wagon, the wheel being indicated merely in broken lines, the axle shown in section and the reel mechanism omitted.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail, perspective view of a portion of the pressure creating mechanism and Fig. 5 is a plan view of another portion of the same showing the adjustment.

I have used the reference character 10 to indicate generally a farm wagon of a com mon variety having the rear axle 11, rear wheels 12 and steps 50.

The apparatus ofmy invention is adapted to be attached to the steps 50 using a single bolt 14 extended through the left hand step and through the shaft 13 of the reeling attachment. The shaft 13extends just below the two-steps and is supported by the right hand step for sliding movement lengthwise 1930. Serial No. 463,688.

of the step by means "of the control lever 16 and yoke '17.

The control lever 16 is provided with a circular opening to receive the shaft 13 and the yoke 17 has an end extended through an aperture in the lever 16 and another end formed as a ring 18 encircling the shaft 13. The method by which the shaft 13 is thus slidingly supported is thought to be obvious from an inspection of Fig. 3. An advantage of the construction just described resides in the ease of assembly thus produced; The shaft 13 is provided with an aperture through which the bolt 14 extends and it is only necessary to bore a hole through the step to remove the nut and to secure the bolt in the hole in the step. The lever 16 is placed in position receiving the shaft and extended up between the step and the wagon box just prior to the securing of the bolt 13 in the other step. The yoke 17 is placed in position by sliding the ring 18 over the end of the shaft before the reeling mechanism is attached.

The reeling mechanism serves to hold the yoke 17 in place.

The reeling mechanism comprises a reel 18 received loosely on the shaft 13 and enclutched with a clutch member 19 secured to a drive pulley 51, alsoloosely mounted on the shaft. The specific reel pulley and clutch assembly forms no part of the present invention but it may be stated for-clarity that the clutch finger 19 engages against one of the arms 52 of the reel 18.

The reel is held in place by the wire guide yoke 53, the side arms of which are apertured to receive the shaft 13 and which embrace. the reel and pulley. A key 54 secures the entire assembly in place. The wire is fed onto the reel through the wire guide'55 which is controlled by a rod 56 extending toward the wagon box. The height of the guide yoke 53 is determined by a finger which rests on the step 50. The guide may raise above the position wherein the finger rests against the step but is limited in its downward movement to this position.

In order to move the pulley 51 against-the wheel 12 the lower end of the lever .16 which projects below the shaft 13 is linked by a rod 20 to a pair of clamping plates 58 which engage the axle 11 and bolsters 59 of the Wagon. An eye bolt 23 secures the plates 58 together and also serves as a means to secure the end of the rod 20. To this end the rod 20 is provided with a laterally bent portion 21 extended through. the bolt 23 and secured by a cotter pin 22. v

To the upper end of the lever 16 is pivoted a jaw clutch 25 through which is-extended a rod 2tprovided at its other end with an eye 26 receiving the portion 21 of the rod 20; The jaw clutch 25 is pivotedat 26 to the lever 16 and has an operating handle 27 which may be grasped simultaneously with the lever 16.

The rod 20 is formed in two sections connectedtogether by a U} bolt clamp 28. By loosening the clamp 28 the sections of the rod maybe slid relative to each other and the pulley 51 thereby pulled or adjusted from the wheel 12.

In the operation of the device when it is desired to turn the reel, the handle of the lever 16 is grasped and the lever is pulled toward the wheel 12. This moves the shaft 13 toward the wheel, bringing the pulley 51 into contact with the tire of the wheel. The handle of the lever 16 may be released while the device is operating, the pressure against the lever 16 exerted by the pulley and shaft serving to tighten the jaw clutch 25 into engagement with the rod 24.

hen it is desired to release the driving connection between the pulley and the wheel, the operator simply grasps the handle 27 and the lever 16; simultaneously compresses his fingers and thereby moves the handle 27 toward the lever 16 to release the jaw clutch and then pulls the lever forwardly away from the wheel 12. This is done most conveniently while standing on the ground. although it may be performed by the operator while in the wagon 7 It will be understood that the aw clutch 25 is self-locking on the smooth rod 24.

. The jaw clutch 25 and handle 27 are formed in a single piece of heavy sheet metal, the jaw portion being twisted at right angles to the handle portion and perforated to receive the rod 24.

.The rod 20 serves as a fulcrum to position the lower end of the lever 16 stationary while the intermediate portion thereof is moved.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my in vention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably in cluded within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a wire reeler, in combination with a wagon having a wagon box provided on either side with a step and having rear wheels, one of said steps being spaced from the wagon box, a shaft pivoted to the other step and extending under said spaced step,-

a lever attached to the shaft and extended between said spaced step and the wagon box, a yoke receiving the sha ft extending over the step and attached to the lever whereby the shaft is slidably supported by said spaced step, reeling mechanism including a pulley and reel mounted on the shaft and means connecting the lever to the wagon whereby movement of the lever in one direction may bring the pulley into frictional engagement with the wagon wheel.

2. In combination with awagon having rear wheels, awagon box andsteps supported by said box, one of said steps being spaced from the box, a shaft pivoted to the other step and extending under said spaced step, a lever attached to the shaft and extended between said spaced step and the box, a yoke attached to the lever and to the shaft and slidably resting against the upper side of said spaced step, reeling mechanism including a reel and a pulley rotatably mounted on the shaft and means connecting the lever to the wagon whereby movement of the lever in one direction will cause the pulley to frictionally engage the wheel.

tached tothe shaft and extending in crossed .95 3. In combination with a wagon having' relation to the step, a member secured to the lever and slidably resting against the upper surface of the step adjacent the lever to support the lever and shaft, reeling mechanism including a reel and a pulley rotatably,

mounted on the shaft and meansconnecting the lever to the wagon whereby movement of the lever in one direction will bring the pulley into frictional engagement with the wheel.

4.. In combination, with a wagon having rear wheels, a box and a pair of steps secured" to the box, a shaft pivoted toone of the steps and extending under the other, a-lever attached to the shaft and extending: in crossed relation to said other step, a member attached to the shaft and slidably resting against the upper side of the step adjacent the lever to.

support the lever and shaft, reeling mechanism including a reel and pulley rotatably mounted on the shaft and means connecting the lever to the wagon whereby movement of the lever in one direction will bring the pulley into frictional engagement with the wheel.

5. In combination with a wagon. having rear. wheels and a box, a shaft supported by the box. for movement toward the wheels, a lever attached to the shaft and having a portion extending upwardly and a portion extending downwardly therefrom, a link fixed at one end to the wagon and pivoted at its other end to said downwardly projecting lever portion, a jaw clutch carried by the lever intermediate its upper end and the shaft, a rod secured to the wagon at a point considerably removed from said clutch, said rod in cluding a smooth portion engaged by said clutch to secure the lever in any of a series of very closely spaced positions and reeling mechanism including areel and pulley carried by the shaft, the pulley being positioned to engage one of said wheels.

6. In combination with a wagon having rear wheels and a box, a shaft supported by the box for movement toward the wheels, a lever attached to the shaft and having a portion extending upwardly and a portion extending downwardly therefrom, a link attached to the wagon box at a point removed horizontally from the lever and pivoted to said downwardly projecting lever portion, means for securing the lever in any of a series of adjusted and reeling mechanism including a reel and pulley carried by the shaft, the pulley being pulled to engage one of said wheels.

7 In combination with a wagon having rear wheels and a box, a shaft carried by the box for movement toward the wheels, a lever attached to the shaft and having a portion extending upwardly and a portion extending downwardly therefrom, a link attached to the wagon at a point removed laterally from the lever and pivoted to said downwardly projecting lever portion, said link comprising two sections secured together for longitudinal adjustment relative to each other, means for securing the lever in any of a series of adjusted positions and reeling mechanism including a reel and a pulley carried by the shaft, the pulley being positioned to engage one of said wheels.

8. In combination with a wagon having rear wheels, abox and an axle and bolster connecting the wheels and box, a shaft carried by the box for movement toward the wheels, a lever attached to the shaft and having a portion projecting upwardly and a portion projecting downwardly therefrom, a pair of clamp plates engaging the sides of the axle and bolster, an eye bolt securing the clamp plates in said engagement, a link attached to said eye bolt and pivoted to said downwardly projecting lever portion, a jaw clutch attached to said upwardly projecting lever portion, a rod attached to that portion of the link which engages the eye bolt and engaged by said jaw clutch to secure the lever in any of a series of adjusted positions and reeling mechanism including a reel and pulley rotatably mounted on the shaft, the pulley being positioned to engage one of said wheels.

Signed this 41th day of June, 1930, in Woodbury County, Iowa.

WILLIAM C. SAUNDERS. 

